Winnipeg Sun
Tuesday, February 19, 2002
By Ken Wiebe -- Winnipeg Sun

Bryan Allen wasn't counting on a colourful return, but that's exactly what he got.

In his first game back from a four-game stint with the Vancouver Canucks, Allen took a puck in the face and broke his nose.

Although he returned to finish Saturday's game with the St. John's Maple Leafs, the hulking Manitoba Moose defenceman had to sit out Sunday after getting the nose reset and spending much of the morning in the hospital.

"It happened with five minutes left in the first period," said Allen, the Canucks first pick in the 1998 draft (fourth overall), sporting a shiner under his right eye. "It was going to be a wristshot from the point, but it went off (Ryan) Ready's stick and went up (and caught me under the eye).

"It was difficult (to come back), but it was more of an adrenaline thing. I had already played 15 minutes of the game."

When the adrenaline rush had subsided, that's when the pain became a factor.

"It was more that night and the next day where it really started to swell up," said Allen, who has four goals and 17 points in 47 games with the Moose this season. "I just wasn't all there, I didn't get much sleep and it was an early game. I probably wasn't going to be able to help the team."

Off-ice: With four days to prepare for their next game action, the Moose opted for an off-ice workout yesterday at the Winnipeg Arena.

They will return to the ice this morning for three days of practice before departing for a critical two-game set in Hamilton against the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs sit in fourth place, just one point behind the Moose and St. John's Maple Leafs and five behind the Canadian Division leaders, the Quebec Citadelles.

Quebec has lost three consecutive games, while Hamilton snapped an eight-game winless skid with a 4-3 overtime victory on Sunday against the Saint John Flames, who sit fifth in the division with 55 points.

The victory by the Bulldogs also snapped a 14-game losing skid against the Flames, which dates back to the latter stages of the 1999-00 season.

Special teams: In earning a weekend sweep over the Maple Leafs, the Moose used their improving special teams to lead them to victory.

Manitoba limited the league-leading St. John's power play (22.63%) to three goals in 10 opportunities, while going 4-for-10 and adding two shorthanded goals.

"It was key, they've got the No. 1 power play in the league and they don't do anything great on it, but they kind of mesmerize you," said Moose assistant coach Barry Smith.

"Our power play really played well and had a lot of chances. We've had chances up until now, but we haven't got any bounces. Maybe we were trying to be too fancy, but now it's starting to pay off."



BACK